Colts-Jaguars preview: Anthony Richardson out, what Colts still have left to play for despite playoff elimination

“It hurts,” linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “I know fans have been extremely frustrated, rightfully so. It hurts a ton when you’re trying to give everything you have. I feel like I gave my heart out there on Sunday and it sucks when you come up short in games that matter the most. But thankfully we got another opportunity and that’s all I’m really looking forward to. We got another chance to play at home in front of the fans. And even though we ain’t give them the season they deserve, maybe we give them the finish they deserve, and that’s what I’m focused on.”

The Colts’ opponent, the 4-12 Jaguars, will have the same approach as their season from hell comes to a close. Jacksonville lost its first four games, then beat the Colts in Week 5; their only other wins have been over the Patriots and Tennessee Titans, a pair of 3-13 teams. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who signed a contract extension prior to the season, sustained a shoulder injury in Week 9, and when he returned in Week 12, he sustained a concussion on a hit by Azeez Al-Shaiir that got the Houston Texans linebacker suspended for three games. Lawrence has not played since, with backup Mac Jones stepping in for the final five games of the season.

While the only thing that’ll practically change for either team on Sunday is draft positioning – something players absolutely do not care about – both the Colts and Jaguars will take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium expecting professionalism out of their players.

“We still got work to do,” Buckner said. “It’s another game on the schedule. We’re all here, we’re all professionals, and we gotta do our job, and that’s to win the ballgame.”